Department of Chemical Engineering

Durban University of Technology

BTech Project IV (PRCE401)–Project Proposal Formfor Supervisors – 2015

(Please email submissions(word format only) to , by February 6, 2015)

Chemical Engineering Staff – Minimum 7 Projects per Staff Member. (submit only page 1 per project)

Name of Supervisor/Company(See Appendix A) / Position/Highest Qualification
Project Title (5 – 10 words) - the only information that will be made available to students prior to project allocation) / Type of Project (See Appendix B) / Number of students (1/2)
Project Description and Objectives (max 100 words)- Please note that this is not a design project.
Engineering Methods / Skills and Tools: What engineering methods, skills and tools will the student be expected to use in this project to achieve the outcome(s)?
Infrastructure and Resources: Can required resources be available by April 30th 2015? What is the estimated budget for the project? (2014 Allocation for DUT projects was R1000 per project).
Outcomes: Does the project provide satisfactory opportunities to meet each of the following ECSA outcomes? (See Appendix C)
Specific outcome / YES/NO / Evidence
1.Formulate a project / Written Proposal
2.Describe and justify the theoretical framework and methodology to address the project / Proposal Presentation and Progress Report
3. Conduct and manage the project / Progress Report 1
4.Analyse the information gained/results of the project. / Progress Report 1/ Progress Presentation
5.Draw conclusions/make recommendations based on the project. / Final Oral Presentation/Written Report
6. Produce a report of completed work. / Final Written Report
This project has been reviewed by the Supervisor and Project Technician.
Technician / Date
Course Coordinator / YES/NO / Date
Reference Number

Appendix A: Role of the Supervisor

  • Supervisors are there to provide guidance and support, and offer suggestions on courses of action.

Appendix B - The minimum requirements for the different project categories

Type of Project / Minimum Requirement
Industrial investigation /
  • Problem must be clearly defined with key objectives
  • Your role must be clearly defined if it is a team project
  • Permission and acknowledgement from your company for the project
  • The project must include application of relevant chemical engineering theory/ principles
  • Collection and analysis of process / performance data – this may include statistical analysis

Development of test rigs /
  • Problem must be clearly defined with key objectives
  • Include design, construction and commissioning
  • The project must include application of relevant chemical engineering theory/ principles
  • Collection and analysis of process / performance data – this may include statistical analysis

Mathematical Modeling /
  • Problem must be clearly defined with key objectives
  • Detailed description / Development of model
  • The project must include application of relevant chemical engineering theory/ principles
  • Selection of suitable numerical technique
  • Development of code / algorithm
  • Simulation of results and sensitivity analysis
  • Comparison of simulated results with real data.

Experimental Project /
  • Problem must be clearly defined with key objectives
  • The project must include application of relevant chemical engineering theory/ principles
  • Assembly of test unit and commission
  • Collection and analysis of experimental data – this may include statistical analysis
  • Repeatability of tests

APPENDIX C: Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Detailed requirements as specified by ECSA for the projects in the B Tech qualification.

Specific outcomes / Assessment Criteria
a)Formulate a project. /
  • The project is identified and described.
  • The purpose, importance and significance of the study are presented.
  • The specific tasks in the study are identified.
  • The resource requirements are estimated.
  • A time framework for the study is provided.
  • The relevant assumptions, premises and constraints are identified and recorded.

b)Describe and justify the theoretical framework and methodology to address the project. /
  • Relevant sources of information on the project brief are surveyed.
  • Related systems and sub-systems are identified.
  • Key questions / problems / issues are identified.
  • The relevant theoretical framework is described, justified and applied.
  • The relevant methodology to address the project brief is described and justified.
  • A project proposal is presented.

c)Conduct and manage the project. /
  • The project investigation / development are conducted in accordance with industry practice.
  • Appropriate data collection methods are applied.
  • Statistical methods are applied to information sampling
  • Observations made are consistently and accurately recorded.
  • The project process is successfully managed.

d)Analyse the information gained / results of the project. /
  • Facts and evidence are distinguished from assumptions and inferences.
  • Optimum process conditions are identified through analyses of resultsin accordance with process requirements
  • Errors and redundancies are identified through analyses of the datain accordance with standard statistical methods.

e)Draw conclusions / Make recommendations based on the project. /
  • Valid conclusions are drawn based on the results of the project.
  • Recommendations for process / product optimisation are developed from the results of experiments and trials in accordance with organisation requirements, resources, and constraints.
  • Implications of applying recommendations to actual industrial processes / products are identified and described in accordance with process requirements and environmental, economic, and safety factors.

Description / Date
Deadline: Literature Review Case Study: Turnitin/HardCopy (15H00) / 20 February
Supervisor’s Deadline: Draft of Summary of Proposed Project. / 23 February
Deadline: Summary of proposed project (maximum: one A4 page) / 27 February
Supervisor’s Deadline: Written Proposal / 16 March
Deadline: Written Proposal (maximum: three A4 pages) / 24 March
Project Proposal Presentation / 30 to 31 March
Supervisor’s Deadline: Draft of Progress Report / 03 June
Deadline: Progress Report / 17 June
Progress Report Presentation / 18 to 20 June
** DEREGISTRATION OF STUDENTS WITH UNSATISFACTORY PROGRESS / 19 JUNE
Supervisor’s Deadline Draft of Final Written Report / 11 September
Deadline: Final Written Report / 29 September
Final Oral Presentation / 15 to 17 October

The Final Mark for Project IV will be determined as follows:

  1. Written Proposal5 %
  2. Proposal Presentation (5 min)5 %
  3. Progress Report 110 %
  4. Progress Oral Presentation (10 min)5 %
  5. Final Oral Presentation (10 min)10 %
  6. Case Studies5%
  7. Final Written Report60 % (subminimum 50%)

Final Mark100 %

The pass mark for Project IV is a Final Mark of 50% (subject to a sub minimum of 50% for the final report)

1